Diabetes can affect sensation and circulation, so a small foot injury may be harder to notice and slower to heal. A daily check helps you spot changes before they become more serious. Set aside a few minutes in a well-lit place, and examine both feet, including the soles and spaces between your toes. If bending or seeing your feet is difficult, use a mirror or ask someone you trust to help.
What to look for
Check the tops, soles, heels, sides, and spaces between your toes. Look for cuts, blisters, cracks, sores, bruises, redness, swelling, or areas that feel unusually warm. Notice changes in skin color, dryness, peeling, or thick calluses. Also check your nails for ingrown edges, discoloration, or signs of infection.
Compare your feet with each other and pay attention to changes from day to day. Look inside your shoes for stones, rough spots, dampness, or objects that could rub your skin. Do not assume everything is fine because you feel no pain; reduced sensation can make an injury easy to miss.
How to check safely
Choose a regular time, such as after bathing, and make sure your feet are dry before inspecting them. Use good lighting. To see the soles, sit down and use a mirror placed on the floor, or ask a family member or caregiver to check for you. Check between every toe, where moisture and friction can cause skin problems.
Wash your feet with warm—not hot—water and mild soap. Test the water with your hand or elbow if you have reduced sensation. Dry gently, especially between the toes, and apply moisturizer to dry skin, but not between the toes. Avoid cutting corns or calluses yourself, using chemical removers, or treating an injury with home remedies without guidance from a clinician.
When to contact a professional
Contact a foot care professional promptly if you find a cut, blister, sore, swelling, persistent redness, drainage, or a change in skin color or temperature. Seek guidance for a nail problem or callus that you cannot manage safely. If you are unsure whether a change needs attention, call rather than waiting for it to worsen.
Get urgent medical care for a foot that becomes suddenly cold, pale, blue, or very painful, or for spreading redness, pus, fever, or rapidly worsening swelling. Do not walk barefoot or put pressure on an injured area while arranging care. Follow the instructions of your diabetes care team, especially if you have had a previous ulcer or amputation.
A consistent check helps you notice foot changes even when they do not hurt. Keep a mirror nearby, inspect your shoes, and contact a qualified professional when you find a new injury or concerning change. If you need help with a foot concern, Pittsburgh Foot Health can discuss appropriate next steps.